I would like to get a few responses on what you guys figure the main purpose is of a scuttle and how you go about using it. Do you think it is worth the extra time and expense? Is it worth the extra room?
how to use a scuttle
- Thread starter ccnutman
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You put hot water in the bottom of it and you get warm lather. Other than putting warm water in it you use it just like a bowl. I just got one and I like it. It's kind of a luxury item, not necessary, but really nice. It doesn't really take much extra time to use it, you just pour some hot water in it. As far as expense, that just depends on how much money you want to spend. If you are on a budget, maybe you just want to stick to a cheap bowl or mug. As far as worth the extra room, I guess it just depends on how much room you have to spare.
While every thing that drybonz said is correct, let me elaborate a little.
A scuttle acts like putting your bowl, or mug on a hot plate, to keep the whole thing nicely warm. These were originally used before electricity was in use, and in order to get the warmth on those cold new england winter mornings, you put the kettle on the stove, and when you are ready to shave, you put the hot water from the kettle into the bottom chamber of the scuttle. The hot water from the kettle provides the warmth. the thermal chamber is much bigger than the top one (where the soap goes) due the the issue that "a lot of water" cools slower than just "a little bit of water".
Before I discovered I was a face lathering shaver, I used to float my ceramic lather bowl, with the brush in it, in a sink of very very hot water (I actually turned the hot water heater thermostat to the small tickmark past the large one that said "Hot". Doing this allowed me a nice warm/hot lather and the ability to adjust lather when I felt like it (it would dry fast, so I had to add water between passes. great of you like to fiddle with the mixture )
if you are curious to see if you want a scuttle, try the experiment with a thick ceramic lather bowl, and floating it in very hot water.
You might discover you are a face latheror, or even a cold water shaver
good luck!
A scuttle acts like putting your bowl, or mug on a hot plate, to keep the whole thing nicely warm. These were originally used before electricity was in use, and in order to get the warmth on those cold new england winter mornings, you put the kettle on the stove, and when you are ready to shave, you put the hot water from the kettle into the bottom chamber of the scuttle. The hot water from the kettle provides the warmth. the thermal chamber is much bigger than the top one (where the soap goes) due the the issue that "a lot of water" cools slower than just "a little bit of water".
Before I discovered I was a face lathering shaver, I used to float my ceramic lather bowl, with the brush in it, in a sink of very very hot water (I actually turned the hot water heater thermostat to the small tickmark past the large one that said "Hot". Doing this allowed me a nice warm/hot lather and the ability to adjust lather when I felt like it (it would dry fast, so I had to add water between passes. great of you like to fiddle with the mixture )
if you are curious to see if you want a scuttle, try the experiment with a thick ceramic lather bowl, and floating it in very hot water.
You might discover you are a face latheror, or even a cold water shaver
good luck!
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- #4
I bought a really nice one on ebay; hand hammered pewter finely crafted in England. I use it mainly to hold my soap as the entrance to the water chamber is a little small for my brush. I use another mug separately to soak my brush. So what it brings to my shaving routine is mainly decorative.
Having warm lather for my second and third pass is nice. I know it is worth it after face lathering and letting the brush sit at the edge of the sink, providing cold lather for the second pass. I don't think letting a thin walled bowl sit in the warm water would keep the lather as warm. I only use tap water at its hottest in my scuttle. Those who heat the water before putting it in the scuttle probably notice a greater difference between using the scuttle versus leaving the bowl in the sink.
I can add a couple of things. I have a DB 1.5 and it's very heavy. To make lather, I just hold on to the handle and swirl away. Because it's so heavy it doesn't move around or go flying if bumped (don't ask). I used to get scratches on my brush handles near the top from scraping off the brush against the bowl edge but the DB is smooth everywhere. I use hot tap water in the cool/cold months and nothing in the summer. If the water is too hot it dries out the lather. You can recover the quality of the lather but you need to keep your eye on it. I will buy another scuttle in the near future just cause I like em.
i don't see how you get warm lather even in the summer if the water isn't boiling ? our tap water varies in temp - have the DB 1.5 also and again, if the water isn't very hot, the lather is not close to being warm - and i have no problem keeping the lather moist with very hot water.
I just bought my first scuttle on etsy.com. I got tired of the lather being cold by the third pass. Now the lather is nice and warm for every pass, 3+ usually. Not something that you have to have, but nice. I fill the bottom with hot water before I shower. Face lather and set the brush in the scuttle. No great amount of time is required to use a scuttle.
I don't heat the scuttle in the summer or use hot water to keep it warm because having hot/warm lather in the summer is the last thing I want. I like to use the DB bowl for lather making because of the size and stability. Durning the cooler/cold months, as long as the lather temperature is above room temperature it's very noticeable and nice. Melt and pour lather quickly degrades in a very warm scuttle. The others do better but I find that I need to swirl the lather every couple of minutes to maintain the lather consistency.
- Thread starter
- #12
I can generate enough lather from Saint Charles shaving soap (bless her, she was a Saint) from the mug that I have each of hers in and finish by face lathering. I do not think I will have to generate lather in the bowl (I put a generous amount of very hot water in the mug prior to showering and dump it out and fairly hot water on my brush just prior to lathering). I guess from what you guys are saying that just placing the brush in the heated upper bowl (no puck in bowl) will keep the lathered brush warm. But it seems to me only a portion of the brush makes contact with the scuttle.
Well the point is not to face lather. I think there are "brush scuttles" or something, but I don't use one.
If you bowl lather, it will warm the lather. If you face lather, it is not going to be warm since it was never in the scuttle.......
I really like them for function, and I think they look great in the shave den. Definitely a luxury item which is unnecessary, but wonderful in cool weather. If you are looking for necessary, stick with one razor, one brush, and one puck of cheap shave soap.
If you bowl lather, it will warm the lather. If you face lather, it is not going to be warm since it was never in the scuttle.......
I really like them for function, and I think they look great in the shave den. Definitely a luxury item which is unnecessary, but wonderful in cool weather. If you are looking for necessary, stick with one razor, one brush, and one puck of cheap shave soap.
I got so used to a warm brush and lather for every shave, that I even packed the scuttle on a recent trip.
Oh, so you just place the brush in the upper bowl? Mine has holes for draining so I thought the soap would go there. I'm going to try this. I actually use a candle powered tea warmer to keep it warm while I shower.
if yours has holes for draining, the upper bowl is not for the brush.
Your top bowl is meant for soap only. But, you can rest your brush on top of the soap.
Though, it is not traditional to take the soap out and let the brush sit on the upper bowl.
You will have to purchase a scuttle that looks like this if you want to put your brush in it.
I think that is to hold the soap. What you describe sounds like the classic scuttle design while most people on the site use a modern redesign of the classic scuttle. The old ones were not meant to keep the brush and lather hot but the new ones are.
I use mine mainly as a brush warmer since I can't for the life of me generate lather in the bowl of my scuttle. Using a regular bowl, sure, but the ribbed scuttle I just can't figure out. Still it works nice. I soak my scuttle in the sink, submerged, while I shower and then when I am finished I take out the scuttle but still filled with the sink's water (usually after a shower in the winter I have no hot water left). I use the scuttle's water to wet my brush and the bowl to hold it between passes. It keeps the brush nice and warm.
is robert becker a vendor here?
any link to his website?
i tried the google and couldn't find anything.
any link to his website?
i tried the google and couldn't find anything.
I'll continue as I have been doing then since my scuttle has holes. It's a great soap holder if nothing else; adds class to the whole thing.
Today I found out something new. (Oh God! Here comes the candle powered tea warmer again) I put my mug on the warmer and let the brush soak in the ever heating water while I shower. I then load the brush generously and face lather leaving the mug filled and heating. I plunk the brush in the mug and go for the first pass. I pull the brush out, shake a little water out and proceed to lather again without re-charging. My brush retains the soap even submerged. Four passes with perhaps a little soap refresher for the brush as needed. This is how I'm approaching eliminating the cold touch of repeated latherings. Anyone else know about this?
Today I found out something new. (Oh God! Here comes the candle powered tea warmer again) I put my mug on the warmer and let the brush soak in the ever heating water while I shower. I then load the brush generously and face lather leaving the mug filled and heating. I plunk the brush in the mug and go for the first pass. I pull the brush out, shake a little water out and proceed to lather again without re-charging. My brush retains the soap even submerged. Four passes with perhaps a little soap refresher for the brush as needed. This is how I'm approaching eliminating the cold touch of repeated latherings. Anyone else know about this?
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